Bill Alston

SA 2200



This guitar was made in Japan from at least 1992 to 2014. It also appears in the various English language catalogues. It has been the standard SA for that period and often the only one available. The Japanese catalogue 1994 shows retail of 150,000 yen. In 2012 MRRP 231,000 yen (£1300). Although supposedly out of production it is still available at about £1550 in September 2016.

Specifications
Body Laminated figured Maple with white binding and Gloss finish but see note below
Neck Mahogany C shaped white binding gloss finish
Fretboard Ebony 13.75" radius 22 Medium Jumbo (Dunlop 6105) Frets 24.75" scale
Headstock Black outlined with 3 white and 2 black lines figured motif and no model number on truss rod cover
Tuners Yamaha Diecast
Pickups 2 Alnico V Humbuckers
Controls Gold 2 volume 2 tone with push push coil splitting 3 way toggle switch white tip
Nut Synthetic Bone 43mms
Hardware Gold
Bridge Tune-O-Matic stoptail
Pickguard Standard Black with white edging
Colours Brown Sunburst and Violin Sunburst the Brown dropped around 2005
Note The body is normally described as above but on some Yamaha own sites it is described as Laminated Sycamore witha soft Maple centre. In one Yamaha Japanese catalogue it is described as Maple and Sycamore top Birch and Sycamore Back and sides Maple and a Spruce Block
Below is a conversation on forum regarding the continued or otherwise production of SA guitars

From a Canadian guitarist Sept 2016
Earlier this year, I went to my local Yamaha dealer to enquire about the SA-2200. Not only did they not have any in stock, that model did not exist in their computer system. Because of that, I cannot order one.
Instead, I contacted several Japanese online music shops. None of the shops had one in stock, but they could order one without knowing when they will get it. It seems Yamaha does not make them on a regular basis. It took a few months to get mine, and the import duty cost me a small fortune. So, this model is still in production. Perhaps no longer available in Europe or North America, but they still build them. I had heard elsewhere that Yamaha had switched the SA-2200 production to Taiwan, but it does not seem to be the case. The serial number label on mine has "Made In Japan" printed on it.

They still appear on the Japanese and UK web sites as at September 2016

Update Sept 2018
Despite the talk of them being out of production several European and UK retailers have them in stock one at as low as £1350 but most around £1600. All appear to be made in Japan.

Update April 2022
These are still readily available and seem to be still in production. Maybe they stopped for a short time.

Some more pictures although there are plenty of these about.
 

 

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